@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
/ *
* Copyright 2002 - 2011 the original author or authors .
* Copyright 2002 - 2012 the original author or authors .
*
* Licensed under the Apache License , Version 2 . 0 ( the "License" ) ;
* you may not use this file except in compliance with the License .
@ -21,20 +21,21 @@ package org.springframework.validation;
@@ -21,20 +21,21 @@ package org.springframework.validation;
* validation ' hints ' .
*
* @author Juergen Hoeller
* @author Sam Brannen
* @since 3 . 1
* /
public interface SmartValidator extends Validator {
/ * *
* Validate the supplied { @code target } object , which must be of a { @link Class } for
* which the { @link # supports ( Class ) } method typically has ( or would ) return { @code true } .
* Validate the supplied { @code target } object , which must be of a type of { @link Class }
* for which the { @link # supports ( Class ) } method typically returns { @code true } .
* < p > The supplied { @link Errors errors } instance can be used to report any
* resulting validation errors .
* < p > < b > This variant of { @code validate } supports validation hints , such as
* validation groups against a JSR - 303 provider < / b > ( in this case , the provided hint
* < p > < b > This variant of { @code validate ( ) } supports validation hints , such as
* validation groups against a JSR - 303 provider < / b > ( in which case , the provided hint
* objects need to be annotation arguments of type { @code Class } ) .
* < p > Note : Validation hints may get ignored by the actual target { @code Validator } ,
* in which case this method is supposed to be behave just like its regular
* in which case this method should behave just like its regular
* { @link # validate ( Object , Errors ) } sibling .
* @param target the object that is to be validated ( can be { @code null } )
* @param errors contextual state about the validation process ( never { @code null } )